CIRCLE THREE 
SEES A VISION 



by 
Belle B. Clokey 



•« 



WOMAN'S BOARD OF HOME MISSIONS 

OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE U. S. A. 

156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 



CHARACTERS 

Mrs. Terry, President 
Mrs. Bangs, Secretary and Treasurer 
Mrs. Curtis, Pastor's wife 

Mesdames Dean, Evans, Butler, Forrester, Har- 
ris, Martin, Brown, McClung, Lang, Morton, 
Jones, and Campbell, Members of Circle Three 

General Suggestions 

Setting of the play can be either a church parlor or 
a home. When the play opens the women are all pres- 
ent except Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Martin and are busy 
with their sewing or fancy work and all talking at 
once. This effect can easily be gained by having them 
repeat the letters of the alphabet in conversational 
tones. 

Much of the music suggested will be found in "Alle- 
luia" published by The Westminster Press, 1391 Wal- 
nut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 



Copyright August, 1921, by 

Woman's Board of Home Missions 

of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. 



©CI.D 58750 
MP 29 1321 






7$ 1.3 S 

.Z.ai'.'ri. ii» 

Circle Three Sees A Vision 



MRS. TERRY 

(Taking her place as leader) 

Please come to order, ladies. We have many important matters to 
discuss today. Will the secretary please call the roll. 

MRS. BANGS 

(Calls roll) 

All are present except Mrs. Martin. 

MRS. TERRY 
We will now have the minutes of the last meeting read. 

MRS. BANGS 

(Whose papers are in great confusion) 

Circle Three met and was called to order by the President. There 
was not much business to be attended to. The members paid their 
dues and adjourned to meet (giving date play is used). Mrs. Terry, 
President, Mrs. Bangs, Secretary. 

MRS. TERRY 
If there are no additions or corrections to the minutes, they will 
stand approved as read. You will now please pay your dues. 

(All crowd around Mrs. Bangs who gets confused, scatters 

her papers, but finally gets the money all collected 

in her money bag.) 

MRS. TERRY 
We will now have the election of officers. I believe that official 
honors should be passed around so I refuse to serve again. We are 
ready for nominations for president. 

(Each person nominates some one who refuses until 

all have been nominated. Care should be taken 

to have their excuses varied and interesting.) 

MRS. TERRY 
Everybody present has refused to take the office. Will the Secre- 
tary please give us the names of those who are absent? 

MRS. BANGS 

(After consulting her book.) 

The only one absent is Mrs. Martin. 

MRS. DEAN 
I nominate Mrs. Martin for president. 

AIRS. BUTLER 
I second the motion. 

MRS. TERRY 

You have all heard the motion. Any remarks? If not, all in favor 
say "aye," all opposed "no." The motion is carried. We are now 
ready for nominations for vice president. 



MRS. BUTLER 
I nominate Mrs. Evans. 

MRS. MORTON 
I second the motion. 

MRS. EVANS 

That's all right, ladies. With such a good president as Mrs. Mar- 
tin I won't have anything to do. 

MRS. TERRY 
All in favor of Mrs. Evans for vice-president say "aye." Motion 
i^ carried. We are now ready for nominations for secretary and 
treasurer. 

MRS. FORRESTER 

(Impressively) 

I nominate our present very efficient secretary and treasurer, 
Mrs. Bangs. 

MRS. BANGS 

(J limping up and dropping the money bag, her book and 
various loose papers as she bows to Mrs. Forrester.) 

Thank vou, thank you ! 

MRS. TERRY 

All in favor of Mrs. Bangs as secretary and treasurer say "aye." 
The motion is carried. Here comes Mrs. Martin. Let's salute her 
as our President. 

(All rise- and say, "Good afternoon, Madam President.") 

MRS. MARTIN 

Not me! Now what did anybody mean by putting me in as presi- 
dent? I'll surely get even with the one who suggested it. 

MRS. HARRIS 

You were not just exactly our first choice, Mrs. Martin. We 
asked every member who was present and they all refused, so what 
else could we do? 

MRS. MARTIN 

Well, I'll take it then, but I know you will all be mad at me 
before the year is over because I don't raise enough money. Oh, I 
know what I'll do. I'll go to California to spend the winter. 

MRS. EVANS 

Oh, please don't go, Mrs. Martin. I'll resign as vice-president if 
vou do. 

AIRS. TERRY 

We are now ready to talk about plans for raising money. I have 
had a good deal to say about a rummage sale but no action has ever 
been taken. I think we ought to have one. What do the rest of you 

think about it ? (Absolute silence) 

Do you want one or do you not? That is the question. Let us hear 

from yOU. (Absolute silence) 



Is there no one who has any opinion ? 

(Absolute silence) 

Won't some one please make a motion ? 

(Absolute silence) 

Mrs. Brown, do you want a rummage sale or do you not? 

MRS. BROWN 

(Hesitatingly) 

Yes, I guess so, but Mrs. Peters said she most went crazy the dav 
their Circle had one. 

MRS. TERRY 
Mrs. Evans, do you want a rummage sale or not? 

MRS. EVANS 

Yes, I do, but T was afraid to say so for fear you would put me 
on the committee. I move we have a rummage sale. 

MRS. BROWN 
I second the motion. 

MRS. TERRY 

You have all heard the motion. Any remarks? If not, all in favor 

Say aye. (A few say "aye"). 

All Opposed, "no." (No response) 

That was not a very full vote but I guess it was carried. I will ap- 
point the committee later. Don't forget to save everything you can 
find for the rummage sale. 

MRS. MORTON 
Madam President, what kind of things do you want? 

MRS. TERRY 
Oh, old clothes and hats and shoes, most anything. 

MRS. LONG 

My husband will keep his clothes closet and chiffonier locked day 
and night if he hears we are going to have a rummage sale. You 
know "Blessings brighten as they take their flight" and I sold some 
things once that he has been wanting ever since. 

MRS. BROWN 

Mrs. Peters said that at their sale the people wanted curtains and 
rugs and pictures. 

MRS. BANGS 

Why, is that so? Well, I have a life size crayon picture of my hus- 
band. I Can take that. (AH laugh and talk) 



MRS. TERRY 

Please come to order, ladies. There is another very important mat- 
ter to be discussed. Mrs. Curtis, our pastor's wife, is coming this 
afternoon to talk to us about joining the missionary society. Let 
us discuss the matter before she comes and decide what attitude 
we shall take toward her suggestions. 

MRS. DEAN 

Anybody would think Mrs. Curtis would have gumption enough not 
to get agitated over the missionary society until we get our new 
church built. We are all working our ringers to the bone for that just 
now and there will be plenty of heathens left for us to look after 
when that is finished. 

MRS. MORTON 

What is a missionary society anyway? When Billie and I get our 
new bungalow finished we want to furnish it throughout in mission 
style. Should I get some good suggestions if I joined the missionary 
society ? 

MRS. LONG 

Oh, no ! A missionary society isn't anything like that. It's an organ- 
ization for the purpose of sending underwear to the little hottentots 
down in Africa who don't need any anyway. 

MRS. MARTIN 

Well I'm sure I haven't money for anything like that. I can't give 
one cent more than I'm giving now and if my money goes to Africa 
our own church will just have to suffer for it. I tell you my heart's 
in the work right here at home. I give ten cents a month to Circle 
Three, five cents a week to Sunday-school, and one dollar a month 
to the church, and that's my limit. 

MRS. LONG 

Well, I'm sure that I can't go to any more meetings than I'm attend- 
ing now. I belong to Circle Three, the F. B. P. Class, the Eastern 
Stars, the Rebekahs, the X. Y. Z. Association, and three sections of 
the Twentieth Century Woman's Club, and that's about enough for 
one woman. 

MRS. BANGS 

My, won't she get a lot of flowers when she's dead! 

MRS. FORRESTER 

If I kept as many servants as they say the missionaries do, I might 
have time to attend missionary meetings, but when you can't get 
help for love or money the only thing to do is dig in yourself and 
that means good-bye to missionary meetings for me. 

MRS. JONES 

Fve heard that the missionaries only pay a few cents a day for 
their native servants and the servants keep themselves. Each one 



can do only one thing and they do that poorly enough, but the mis- 
sionaries think they are not sent abroad to spend their time doing 
housework, so out of their meagre salaries they manage to hire their 
work done. 

MRS. FORRESTER 

Well, when I can get a servant for a few cents a day, I'll promise to 
begin going to missionary meetings, but not before. 

MRS. CLIFFORD 

The rest of you can do as you please but / am not going to spend 
one minute of my time at old dry-as-dust missionary meetings. We 
have a new limousine and I'm learning to drive it and I propose 
to enjoy it every spare minute I have. The doctor told me just last 
week to avoid crowded rooms and spend much time in the open air. 

MRS. McCLUNG 
I never saw a room yet that was crowded at a missionary meeting. 

MRS. JONES 

They are sometimes, just the same. I attended a meeting over at 
my sister's in Perry sville once and the house was full. They had 
one hundred present. 

MRS. CLIFFORD 

Well, when you can get a hundred out to a missionary meeting in 
our church, telephone to me and I'll motor around and make it 
one hundred and one. I'd be willing to miss one drive just to get 
ahead of Perrysville. 

MRS. BANGS 

(Rising to her feet scattering papers and money and gesturing 
emphatically to emphasize what she says) 

Madam President and Ladies : I want to say just one thing. When 
I get to the point where I can have as many hats as Mrs. Curtis, 
then she can begin talking to me about missions. I have kept count 
and am sure I have seen her wear seven different hats since she 
came here as our pastor's wife. 

MRS. McCLUNG 

Maybe she brought along all the old hats she had ever worn in her 
other parishes. 

MRS. DEAN 

I think it all right for our minister's wife to have more than one 
hat. When we pay our minister a good salary we don't want his 
wife to look as if he received five hundred a year and a donation 
party. 

MRS. LONG 

Sh. . . . ! There comes Mrs. Curtis now. Let's freeze her out on this 
missionary proposition. Everybody must think up some way to give 
her a hint that we are not interested. 

(Everybody gets quiet and looks bored.) 



MRS. CURTIS 

Good afternoon, ladies. It seems rather chilly in here. What makes 
you look so sober today? I'd rather face a northeaster than the at- 
mosphere in this room this minute. 

MRS. TERRY 

Every one seems discouraged and depressed, Mrs. Curtis. I guess 
they have too much to do. 

MRS. CURTIS 
What's the matter with you today, Mrs. Forrester? 

MRS. FORRESTER 

Oh, I have a bad case of house-maid's knee. With help so hard to get 
I am worked to death. I hope you haven't come here to ask me to do 
anything more than I am doing now. If you have, you may as well 
save vour breath. 

MRS. CURTIS 
How are you, Mrs. Long? 

MRS. LONG 

Oh, I have clubitis. I belong to so many organizations that I can't 
keep my dates straight. If anybody asks me to join anything else, I 
am going to say "no" so loud I can be heard a square. 

MRS. CURTIS 
Mow about you, Mrs. Morton? 

MRS. MORTON 

I guess I have house-keeperitis. I am so in love with my new task 
that I don't care for anything that keeps me away from it very 
long at a time. 

MRS. CURTIS 

Even Mrs. Clifford hardly looks herself today. What's wrong? 

MRS. CLIFFORD 

I have auto-intoxication. We have a new car and it almost makes 
me sick not to be out in it this afternoon. 

MRS. CURTIS 
Mow do you feel, Mrs. Martin? 

MRS. MARTIN 

I am suffering from complete nervous collapse of my pocket book. 
Added to the high cost of living is the high cost of giving to every- 
thing that comes along. If anybody says the word "give" to me 
before my next allowance comes due, I know I shall simply fly to 
pieces. 

MRS. CURTIS 

Aren't you well, Mrs. Butler? 



MRS. BUTLER 

Oh, no ! I have had nervous prosperity ever since our last rum- 
mage sale and now that they have voted to have another one I can 
just feel a relapsation coming on. I'm afraid it will be the last rum- 
mage sale I will ever live to see and I do love them so. 

MRS. HARRIS 

Why don't you try Tanlac, Mrs. Butler? We don't want anything to 
happen to you. 

MRS. CURTIS 

How are you, Mrs. Dean? 

MRS. DEAN 

I have needle-woman's cramp from making so many aprons for our 
last bazaar. 

MRS. CURTIS 

Mrs. Bangs, it is desperately hard for you to keep your face screwed 
down that way. What in the world is the matter with you ? 

MRS. BANGS 

(Her hand to her head) 

I have a sick headache caused by wearing one hat for two seasons. 
Nothing will cure it but a new hat, so don't expect me to be cheer- 
ful or think of anything else until I get one. Maybe you could loan 
me one. You seem to have a plenty. 

MRS. CURTIS 

(Smiling) 

How are you, Mrs. Evans? 

MRS. EVANS 

Oh, I don't know. I guess maybe I am getting near-sighted. I can't 
seem to see anything beyond the pots and pans in my own kitchen. 
I have visions of preserving kettles even in my sleep. I think I'll go 
to see an oculist. 

MRS. CURTIS 

Even Mrs. Jones looks disturbed today. 

MRS. JONES 

My trouble is mental. I am all torn to pieces by what seem to be 
conflicting duties. I keep wishing for a day forty-eight hours long 
so that I can do at least half the things I want to do. If any further 
demands are made on me, I don't know what will become of me. 

MRS. CURTIS 

And how about the rest of you although I believe I have been al- 
most around the circle. 

MRS. McCLUNG 

Oh, we are just plain tired. Please let us rest. 



MRS. CURTIS 

My dear women, you seem to need a physician instead of a minister's 
wife this afternoon. If I were to suggest a suitable hymn for you 
to sing it would be "Dear Lord and shall we ever live at this poor 
dying rate." Please put away your work for a little while. I have 
something to say that I believe will make you forget yourselves 
for a few minutes. 

(All lay aside their work and prepare to give her undivided if not 
very sympathetic attention and during the talk that follows their 
interest gradually deepens. If the talk has been thoroughly committed, 
Mrs. Curtis should begin by pointing at a certain spot at the extreme 
right of the room and gradually pass to the left as the story 
progresses, all eyes carefully following where she points until the 
close of the vision when high in the center of the opposite wall 
they seem to see Heaven open for a moment. When this is carefully 
carried out the effect will be such that people will almost turn 
expecting to see the vision. When the talk is read the effect will 
not be so good, but the accompaniment of music will keep it from 
seeming tiresome. Mrs. Curtis and the accompanist should practice 
together until perfect unity between the two is attained. The 
speaker should never pause while the music is being played, so it 
must be played softly.) 

MRS. CURTIS 

I want to give you a vision that has for many years been the inspira- 
tion of my life and if it should chance to be as much of a help to 
some of you as it has been to me, I shall feel more than repaid for 
coming to your Circle meeting this afternoon. I see Jesus on a 
lonely mountain top in Palestine. Gathered about him are his 
chosen disciples listening eagerly to the gracious words that fall 
from His lips. Strange words they are to the narrow mind of a 
Jew. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to 
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo ! I am 
with you always even to the end of the world." It is His last com- 
mand, for even as they listen a cloud receives Him out of their sight. 
And while they look steadfastly toward heaven two men stand by 
them in white apparel saying "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gaz- 
ing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you 
into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into 
heaven." Then the disciples turn and move silently down the moun- 
tain side. What a strange tumult must be in their hearts. They have 
lost the One with whom they have fellowshipped and with only 
His unseen presence they go down to carry His message to a suf- 
fering, sinning world. Will they fail? Dear Christian women, our 
fate is in the hands of those lonely men as they descend Mt. Olivet. 
Listen and we shall catch the echo of the song in their hearts. 

(Accompanist plays chorus of "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go.") 

Sitting at the feet of the Master they have heard him say, "Ye are 
my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you," "As the Father 
hath sent me even so send I you," and they are ready to obey their 
Lord even though the pathway of obedience leads them to a cross. 

(Music ends here) 

They are drawing near to the cruel city that crucified their Lord. 
Where will they go ? What will they do ? 

("Sweet Hour of Prayer." First half of tune.) 



I see them in an upper room on their knees. Thank God that those 
men with the fate of a world in their grasp know where to go for 
comfort and power. They are waiting for the Holy Spirit's coming. 

(Music ends here) 

Ah ! now they have gone out to preach and to teach. They are bap- 
tizing people by thousands. This new company of believers must 
be organized and trained for service ; new churches must be built. 
Oh, there is so much to be done in their own loved country. Will 
they forget that Jesus sent them to all nations? No, no. 

("Speed Away." One verse.) 

I see them laying their hands on Paul and Barnabas and sending 
them out across the Mediterranean Sea toward us. Two men start- 
ing out to convert a world ! And such a wicked world ! On, on, they 
go, through perils by land and sea. They are scourged ; they are 
stoned ; they are imprisoned ; "persecuted but not forsaken ; cast 
down but not destroyed ;" faltering not even to the end when we 
hear Paul the aged saint exclaiming, "I have fought a good fight ; 1 
have finished the course; I have kept the faith." 

(Music ends here) 

And now I see a vision that I would gladly shut out from my sight. 

("Nearer My God to Thee." One verse.) 

I see blood stains on the banner of the cross. Under Nero I see 
Rome lit with human torches as brave men and women endure the 
fires of martyrdom rather than be unfaithful to their Christ. Under 
Diocletian and Galerius I see the whole Roman world soaked with 
the blood of the martyrs. Will Christianity fail and the Light of 
the World go out? At last the Roman state thinks the battle is 
ended. So many Christians have been slain that there can be none 
left. A memorial medal is struck bearing on one side the words 
"The Christian religion is destroyed and the worship of the gods 

restored." (Music ends here) 

And the next Emperor is a Christian. "He tears the eagles from 
his standards and replaces them with crosses ; the badge of shame 
becomes a sign of glory. Roman soldiers bow the knee to Him 
whom Roman soldiers scourged. Jesus is their king above Caesar. 
Galilee has conquered Rome." 

("Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus." Three verses.) 

And now consecrated hands have caught up that blood stained 
banner and are bearing it aloft as they make their way through the 
fastnesses of Europe. I see Ulfilas toiling as Bishop for forty years 
among the Gothic tribes with great success, though not without dis- 
couragement and persecution. I see Bishop Remigius baptizing King 
Clovis of France and three thousand of his warriors on Christmas 
Day in 496. I see St. Patrick in France listening to the children of 
Ireland as on their knees and with hands extended they cry, "Come 
over and help us." 



Like Paul he dare not be disobedient to the heavenly vision and I 
see Ireland becoming a great center of both religion and education. 
Out from Ireland goes Columba with twelve companions to labor 
with untiring 'zeal for the savage Scotch. I see thirty-two mis- 
sionaries under the leadership of Abbott Austin making their way 
from Rome to the British Isles where they make a quick conquest 
of the Anglo Saxons for Christ. Out from evangelized England 
goes Boniface, the Apostle of Germany, to toil with ceaseless devo- 
tion, until he meets a martyr's death at the hands of the pagan 
Frisians. Thank God that the Gospel has reached our ancestors in 
northern Europe and to those faithful missionaries of the cross we 
can trace our blessed inheritance of Christian faith. 

(Music ends here) 

And now what do I see ? Where there has been a light it has failed. 

("Lead Kindly Light." First half of tune only.) 

A deep darkness has settled over Europe. Freed from the fires of 
persecution the church seems to have lost its vigor and purity. It 
has forgotten its great world-wide commission. They are building 
magnificent churches and forgetting the regions beyond. Holy men 
have secluded themselves in monasteries while unholy men in holy 
garb drag the church down into decay. Will Christianity fail and be 
lost to the world during the dark ages? 

(Music ends here) 

Wait ! I see a light burning in Germany. 

("A Mighty Fortress is our God." First half of tune, twice. Or, "The 
Son of God Goes Forth to War." One verse.) 

It is held aloft in the hands of that courageous man of God, Martin 
Luther, who when pressed and threatened on all sides exclaims: 
"Here stand I. I can do nought else ! God help me ! Amen !" I see 
John Calvin in France, Ulrich Zwingle in Switzerland, John Knox 
in Scotland. The Reformation which gave the world Protestantism 
has brought light out of darkness. Once more a storm of persecution 
arises, but through it all the song goes on : 

"Let goods and kindred go, 
This mortal life also. 
The body they may kill. 
God's truth abideth still. 
His kingdom is forever." 

(Music ends here) 

And now frail vessels are putting out to sea. 

("Jesus Lover of My Soul." One verse.) 

Men and women with stern sad faces are leaving their all behind 
and braving the dangers of a trackless ocean in their search for a 
country where they can have freedom to worship God according to 
the dictates of their own consciences. Will they perish by the way 
and the light of Protestant Christianity go out? No! "I see them 



on the shores of New England building log cabins to shelter them- 
selves from the snows of an inhospitable coast ; I see them at the 
mouth of the St. James River, sick and dying of disease and home 
sickness ; I see them on the St. Johns River in Florida where they 
have been flung half starved, half naked on a flowery coast." 

(Music ends here) 

Will they survive? Yes! 

(America. Two verses. At the first chord have Circle Three and 
the audience rise. The voice should be raised so that the accom- 
paniment can have more volume during the recital of those things 
that have made America great.) 

"Those trembling pilgrims have risen, shaken off their shadows and 
marched. I track their march by cities and commonwealths that have 
the eye of the world." I see from shore to shore of our fair land 
not only beautiful churches dedicated to the worship of God but 
schools and colleges and great universities dedicated to the uplift 
of mankind, for, where Protestantism goes, there Christianity and 
education walk hand in hand, and where a Christian education is 
the foundation upon which a nation is built, there you will find 
human liberty. Oh! it is a wonderful country! We call it God's 
country — our "sweet land of liberty." 

"Land where our fathers died, 
I .and of the pilgrims' pride, 
From every mountain-side, 
Let freedom ring." 

(Music ends here. Motions to Circle Three and the audience to be seated.) 

Oh, we all know how to sing it but that kind of patriotism dwindles 
into a mere weak sentiment unless it sends us out with a real, live, 
active intelligent interest in our country's welfare. 

("Onward Christian Soldiers." Two verses.) 

and, as 1 look. I see that the light of education and Christianity 
burns but dimly in the mountains of the South and in the West and 
Southwest among the Indians and Mexicans to whom our coming 
should have meant redemption, both from ignorance and sin. Alaska 
and Cuba and Porto Rico have not yet received all the blessings 
which an enlightened land has to bestow. I see a shadow all over 
our Southland because an alien race was brought straight from 
bondage into our national life without the preparation that only a 
Christian education can give. I see a cloud shutting out the sun- 
light in the garden spot of the West. There may have been a time 
when Mormonism was a cloud no bigger than a man's hand but 
now it has grown until the chill of it is felt from east to west, from 
north to south. I see a great thundercloud rolling up from the east 
and hear the rumble of an approaching storm. The hordes of people 
who have crowded through our unguarded gates have not been 
Americanized. I see one hundred and fifty thousand men with fifty 
millions of dollars back of them making their way from city to city 
and from countrv-side to country-side with no other purpose but to 



promote social unrest and fan class hatred. I see in our country 
right now the elements of destruction and our only hope is for the 
Church of Jesus Christ to swing out into our nation's problems, 
"marching as fo war, with the cross of Jesus going on before." 

(Music ends here) 

Let us bow our heads for a moment. 

(All sing very softly or a solo voice may sing.) 

"Our father's God to Thee, 

Author of liberty, 

To Thee we sing. 

Long may our land be bright, 

With freedom's holy light, 

Protect us by Thy might, 

Great God our King." 

But shall America pray and toil only for itself? Shall this be the 
place where the command to teach all nations shall be forgotten? 
Shall we who owe all that we are and have to the courageous mis- 
sionaries who Christianized Europe forget that there are still people 
who cry "Come over and help us?" No. 

("We Have Heard the Joyful Sound, Jesus Saves." Two verses.) 

The greatest country in the world has become the scene of the 
greatest missionary activity since Christ stood on Mt. Olivet. Men 
of magnificent statesmanship and world-wide vision are leading us 
out to a world conquest. Men of the strongest type our Christian 
civilization has produced are encircling the world with the banner 
of the cross held high. Christian women are going everywhere re- 
vealing by their lives to an untaught world what Christian woman- 
hood can be, and back of the great leaders and the lion-hearted 
missionaries march the missionary men and women at home without 
whose gifts and prayers the entire program would fail. It is magni- 
ficent work reaching "from Greenland's icy mountains to India's 
coral strands and where Afric's sunny fountains roll down their 
golden sands." 

"Shall we whose souls are lighted 
With wisdom from on high, 
Can we to men benighted 
The lamp of life deny? 
Salvation ! O, salvation ! 
The joyful sound proclaim, 
'Til earth's remotest nation 
Has heard Messiah's name." 

(Music ends here. After a slight pause and slowly but very impressively) 

"And when this gospel of the kingdom has been preached in all 
the world for a witness unto all the nations" then Jesus will come 
again. We have His promise and that cannot fail. 

(The two lines played softly — "Joy to the world the Saviour reigns. 
Let earth receive her King.") 



I cannot give you a vision of His appearing for I know not how or 
where or when He will come. "In an hour when ye think not the 
Son of Man cometh." "Even so come, Lord Jesus." 

(Music ends here) 

I have just one more vision. It is not my own but comes from the 
inspired writer of the apocalypse. Just for a moment the gates of 
heaven swing wide open and what do we see ? 

("Hark Ten Thousand Harps and Voices." The first two lines 
played four times) 

"A great multitude which no man can number of all nations and 
kindreds and people and tongues, clothed with white robes, with 
palms in their hands and crying salvation to our God which sitteth 
upon the throne and unto the Lamb." Dear Jesus, they are there 
from all nations and kindreds and people and tongues. Thy last 
command has not been forgotten. Thy life of loving service was 
not lived in vain. The cross, a symbol of death, has become a symbol 
of life and love all round the world. "Oh, Galilean, Thou hast con- 
quered." (Music ends here) 

Dear Christian women, the most wonderful thing in all history 
is the progress of the Church of Jesus Christ down through the 
past nineteen centuries. On, on, it has moved blessing every nation 
and every life it has touched. Surely we cannot be satisfied simply 
to watch its onward march through this great twentieth century. 
We want to be a living, pulsing part of that mighty historic pageant 
as it moves on toward ultimate triumph. We cannot be apostles nor 
martyrs nor perhaps even missionaries, but there is room for every 
one of us in that great army of faithful missionary women who 
are praying, working, studying, giving, and a worthwhile, world- 
wide life are living. Better still, we who have begun the century can 
be the inspiration of those who will see it close. God help us not only 
to perform our own task but to lead the young people and children 
out into the pathway of privilege and duty. Will those who have 
caught the vision and are willing to "follow the gleam" please rise 
and stand with me while we sing our marching song? 

(At the opening words of "Onward Christian Soldiers" 
all rise and sing the first verse. Have the audience rise for 
the last verse and join in the chorus. At the close those on 
the platform bow their heads while the chorus of "I'll Go 
Where You Want Me to Go" is sung very softly. This 
should be followed by a prayer. These two songs can, with 
a little care, be found in the same key.) 

JCote. — After this manuscript was prepared the writer heard a recitation with an accom- 
paniment of music in which the words of the song were sung very softly with piano 
accompaniment. It was very effective and the suggestion may be valuable to those pre- 
senting this play. If this suggestion is followed, sing the first verse of "Hark Ten Thou- 
sand Harps and Voices" and repeat the Allelujahs. The other songs can be used as 
indicated. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





017 400 9119 « 



